The Department of Health in Region 4-A (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon area) has declared “code white alert” from September 21 to 24 due to Taal Volcano's persistent sulfur dioxide emissions.

Code white alert status refers to the readiness of the hospital workforce to respond to emergency situations.

DOH-Calabarzon Regional Director Ariel Valencia said volcanic smog (vog) should not be taken lightly as sulfur dioxide poses a serious threat to human health that can cause eye irritation, throat, and respiratory diseases.

"It can aggravate pre-existing respiratory ailments depending on the concentration or duration of inhalation and acid rain damage crops that can lead into household water supplies," Valencia said.

In a news release, the DOH said it received reports that some students from Batangas were brought to a rural health unit due to vog.

“There are reported individuals (students) na hinimatay at nakaranas ng hirap sa paghinga at pananakit ng dibdib. We are still collecting reports from the local health kung ilan ang total affected (There were students who fell unconscious and experienced breathing difficulty and chest pains. We are collecting reports (on) how many were affected),” Valencia added.

Residents in communities affected by the vog are advised to stay indoors and close doors and windows, wear a N95 mask when going out, drink plenty of water, and go to the nearest hospital when necessary.

Also on Friday, September 22, the Office of Civil Defense in Calabarzon provided 16,800 pieces of N-95 face masks to the provincial government of Batangas.

Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas and OCD officials also discussed in a meeting the situation of affected communities and how to address concerns and needs of the Batangas and Cavite Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices.

Earlier, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) said the vog forming over Taal Volcano is unrelated to the smog blanketing Metro Manila, which is primarily attributed to emissions from heavy vehicular traffic, especially during rush hour.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology echoed the DENR-EMB report saying the smog in Metro Manila is not likely due to the vog drifting over Taal Volcano, which is detected west-southwest of the volcano and not going toward the Metro Manila area. (PNA)